Finland stuns Jokic, Serbia to reach EuroBasket quarters - ESPN
RIGA, Latvia — Elias Valtonen scored eight points in the final two minutes to help Finland stun Serbia and Nikola Jokic 92-86 Saturday in the round of 16 at the EuroBasket tournament.
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Aryna Sabalenka defeats Amanda Anisimova for her 2nd consecutive US Open title and 4th at a major
NEW YORK: Aryna Sabalenka did not make many mistakes — well, until near the end — despite not sacrificing any power, and outplayed Amanda Anisimova for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the US Open final Saturday, making her the first woman to win the tournament in consecutive years since Serena Williams more than a decade ago. The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka picked up the fourth Grand Slam title of her career, all on hard courts.
McIlroy in hunt for first win since Masters at Irish Open
DUBLIN: Rory McIlroy remained in contention for his first tournament triumph since the US Masters after a bogey-free 68 on Saturday left him four shots off the lead heading into the final round of the Irish Open. McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam of major titles at Augusta National in April, carded four birdies to stay in touch with France’s Adrien Saddier, who also posted a round of 68 at the par 72, 7,441-yard, K Club course near Dublin. Italian Open champion Saddier led by a shot from Angel Hidalgo, who carded 12 birdies in a superb nine-under round of 63 that catapulted the Spaniard into title contention. Another Spaniard, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia fired a 67 to sit three shots off the pace, but overnight leader Joakim Lagergren slipped to four back with a round 73. McIlroy, bidding to win his second Irish Open title, was unhappy despite a second consecutive round without a bogey. “As I was walking off the 18th green, I said to Harry (Diamond, his caddie), this is probably the most frustrating four-under par round of golf I’ve played in a while,” said the Northern Irishman. The 36-year-old McIlroy, the world number two added: “I feel like all day I was just trying to keep myself in a close position to the lead. I feel like I could be a couple of shots better, but overall I’m still in a decent position going into tomorrow.” An elated Hidalgo, who equalled a European Tour record by becoming the 12th player to card 12 birdies in a single round, said: “I really feel for a few moments I was playing the PlayStation, to be honest.
Sinner relishing ‘special’ US Open final with Alcaraz
NEW YORK: Reigning champion Jannik Sinner expects another “special” occasion when he plays Carlos Alcaraz for the men’s US Open title after the Italian reached his fifth successive Grand Slam final on Friday.
Unimpressive England beat Andorra 2-0 in World Cup mismatch
BIRMINGHAM, England :England needed an own goal to open the scoring during a laboured 2-0 win over Andorra in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday before Declan Rice made the result somewhat more respectable against the tiny principality ranked 170 places below them.
Cristiano Ronaldo extends goal-scoring record as he targets a sixth World Cup
MANCHESTER: Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to play in a record sixth World Cup began in typical fashion with two goals as Portugal made a winning start to its qualifying campaign by routing Armenia 5-0. Ronaldo’s goals extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to keep setting more benchmarks before his storied career comes to an end. The 40-year-old soccer great has recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League last summer. The World Cup is the one major trophy that eludes him — leaving him behind his great rival Lionel Messi, who lifted soccer’s biggest prize with Argentina in 2022. Next year would likely be Ronaldo’s last chance to win it when the tournament is staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Over 57,000 spectators set attendance record for German women’s league soccer game
BERLIN: A crowd of more than 57,000 spectators set an attendance record for a German women’s league soccer game Saturday when Bayern Munich hosted Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern said that a total of 57,762 people turned out to watch the hosts win 2-0. That smashed the previous women’s Bundesliga high of 38,365 at a match between Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt from 2023. The European record for a domestic club match is the 60,739 set when Atletico Madrid hosted Barcelona in 2019 in the Spanish league. Barcelona’s 2022 Champions League win over against Real Madrid drew over 91,553 people to Camp Nou stadium, setting a world record for women’s soccer.
Michael O’Neill excited by Northern Ireland’s ‘big step up’ against Germany
Michael O’Neill said he was “excited” to find out how far his young Northern Ireland team has progressed when they face Germany in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Cologne.